Agriculture Industry

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Questions (720)

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

720. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the practice of beak-trimming is used on commercial egg farms in Ireland; if so, the extent and the number of producers using this practice; the age at which beak-trimming takes place; the method in which the beaks are trimmed; if beak trimming is carried out by a veterinary professional, or by a farm worker; if by a farm worker, the specific training the farm workers receives in order to carry out this procedure; if anaesthetic or analgesia is used on the chicks prior to the trimming of their beaks; if there are commercial egg farms in the country which have a no-beak-trimming policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44931/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There is detailed EU and Irish legislation on the protection of laying hens which sets out a number of requirements for the housing and management of table egg layers. The legislation allows for beak trimming of birds, under certain conditions, to prevent feather pecking.

The practice of beak-trimming is not carried out on commercial egg farms in Ireland because birds for this sector are imported as day old chicks from Great Britain where beak trimming has already been carried out on the birds prior to their arrival here.

Only organic egg layer flocks have a no-beak trimming policy because this is a specific requirement of the EU organic legislation.

Question No. 721 answered with Question No. 717.